“Then, I’ll visit again soon, Your Highness. Have sweet dreams.”

*Kiss.*

I placed my lips on Ridit’s round, handsome forehead. He felt more like a cute nephew to me than a prince, so I couldn’t help but give him a goodnight kiss.

Ridit’s eyes widened in surprise, but he didn’t seem to mind.

‘So shy.’

He’s too cute!

As I smiled warmly, Ridit bashfully lowered his gaze.

The three of us, including Eloise, had been playing a royal court game for quite some time. Ridit was very sharp and never forgot the names he heard once. He even remembered the personalities of the characters.

At this rate, he could do a roll call of the court officials as early as tomorrow.

Feeling proud, I stood up. Eloise was already at the door, waiting for me.

“Sis, let’s go now. I’m sleepy.”

“Okay.”

After nearly two hours of playing with Ridit, Eloise seemed quite tired. I took one last look at Ridit, our precious treasure that we must protect.

Ridit waved his small hand at us, blushing a little as his cherry-like lips moved.

“Good night.”

.

.

.

Now I feel a little more at ease.

Seeing Ridit enjoying himself had eased one of the many worries that weighed on my mind. I had been concerned about keeping such a young child, only seven years old, locked underground.

‘I want to come and play with him more often. Maybe it’s a good thing Eloise found out?’

Jane and Alec visited Ridit from time to time, but there were limits. At least I felt somewhat reassured seeing how well Eloise played with Ridit earlier.

“Goodnight, Eloise. Sleep well.”

“You too, Sis.”

Waving her hand sleepily, Eloise headed toward her room. Seeing her follow me around even in this cold northern region made me feel a bit proud.

‘Except for how she sticks to Harriet all the time…’

Watching Eloise disappear into her room, I shook my head and headed toward the stairs.

It was late, and the hallway was quiet, illuminated only by the soft glow of lights. As I ascended the steps, Alec naturally came to mind.

I would have to tell him about meeting Ridit with Eloise today.

Ridit.

Now that I think of it, Ridit was the one who helped us buy a house when we were broke, wasn’t he? Alec had received a huge sum of money from an informant in exchange for Ridit’s location.

Alec had learned about Ridit’s whereabouts from a book he’d read long ago. A book that contained such details was incredible…

Suddenly, I stopped in my tracks.

Alec said he had lost all his memories, to the point where he couldn’t remember my name or face…

So how could he recall the contents of a book he read before?

My heart began pounding loudly.

It felt as if I had finally encountered the knot that had been lingering in my mind all day. Like an unraveling thread, new suspicions emerged in my consciousness.

Cooking.

He had cooked for our family multiple times. I still clearly remember what he said when I asked how he managed to prepare such a feast.

‘I once saw it being made, so I just mimicked it. I’m not sure if it tastes any good.’

What?

How can someone replicate a dish perfectly just by watching it before losing their memory?

Does that make sense?

My heart raced even faster.

Something wasn’t right.

No matter how I looked at it, his explanation didn’t add up.

Could there still be things I don’t know?

Or… was my name and face so insignificant to him that he couldn’t remember them, but he could recall recipes and books?

I shook my head again as I climbed the stairs. I couldn’t even feel my feet moving. It was as if the blood was draining from my body, and everything in front of me seemed dark.

It wasn’t just about the books and cooking.

He rode horses well and danced gracefully too.

There was something more to it that couldn’t be explained by magic alone.

What kind of magic in this world could tell a person’s location and provide recipes for all sorts of dishes?!

There was definitely a secret he was hiding.

With trembling hands, I forced myself to keep walking.

Maybe my mother-in-law was right after all.

* * *

‘What should I do?’

Alec paced around the lord’s room, deep in thought.

There had been a tour of the ice caves, followed by a dinner feast upon their return to the castle. Afterward, they shared strong northern liquor with Brooks and others. They played a drinking game where the loser had to take a shot, and Alec had to drink the most.

He couldn’t focus on the game because his mind was elsewhere.

‘Louise feels awkward around me.’

It started after he told her he had lost all his memories. Whenever their eyes met or they spoke, he could sense her growing discomfort, as if he had become a stranger to her.

This had consumed his thoughts all day, to the point where even the poisonous strong northern liquor couldn’t distract him from thinking about her. Though his healing skill could detoxify the alcohol, he hadn’t even needed it today.

As he wandered near the window, Alec suddenly stopped.

‘Could it be?’

Could it really be that?

The awkwardness and unfamiliarity he’d sensed in Louise’s expression all day weren’t just because he had lost his memories. He had a strong feeling that it was something far more serious.

“…”

Alec slowly lowered the hand that had been resting on his chin.

She was starting to find him suspicious.

Would it have been better if he had lied and said he only lost half of his memories?

By telling her the truth—that he had no memories of Alec—he had inadvertently made himself seem like a liar. The things he had said to hide his true identity could not have been spoken by someone who had truly lost all his memories.

Events from the moment he first woke up in this world began flashing through his mind like a panorama—finding Ridit, traveling with the Duke’s people on the way to Wiltsbrook Castle. These moments stood out particularly vividly.

‘I can’t find that book anymore, but I remember reading about Prince Ridit in it.’

‘That’s fascinating. I wonder what kind of book it was. Maybe it was the diary of someone from the royal family?’

‘I’m not sure who wrote it…’

‘There was a path here, but why hadn’t any of the nobles sent to this castle ever returned?’

‘Maybe they didn’t discover it.’

‘Then how did you find it, Alec?’

‘…I read about it in a very old book.’

‘No one has read as many books as you, Master. It’s all coming back as a blessing.’

“…”

Yes.

It was bound to happen sooner or later.

He had always known that he couldn’t hide his identity forever and that the day would come when he would be cornered and suspected. Louise had mentioned that people were already beginning to question whether he was someone else.

Who could it be?

There were too many suspects: his mother, Eloise, the servants.

Alec squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his fingers against his temples.

‘…I thought I’d been careful.’

Now, there was no doubt he had been found out.

Louise was smart enough to realize that many of the things he had said didn’t quite add up. Her behavior throughout the day, as if lost in thought, was proof of that.

‘…This is driving me crazy.’

Lowering his hand from his face, Alec let out a deep sigh.

A feeling of impending doom settled over him.

What would Louise do once she learned the truth about his identity?

Louise was someone who deeply cared for and worried about Alec. She cherished and loved him because he was Alec. While she had been pleased with his displays of affection and abilities, that was only because she believed he was Alec.

But if she found out the truth…

The shock would be overwhelming.

So much so that she might not be able to stay with him any longer.

*Ding!*

A sudden, cheerful notification sound snapped Alec out of his thoughts.

When he looked up, he saw a system window had appeared.

[New Quest!]

[~Use your skills in the right way!~]

[You have the exclusive husband skills ‘Beginner Husband’s Tickle’ and ‘Beginner Husband’s Warm Touch.’ Use them correctly on your wife right now! Your affection points and experience will increase dramatically!]

[Quest Rewards]

[Experience(?), Affection(?), Trust(?)]

[Quest Penalty]

[If you do not succeed within 12 hours, Wiltsbrook Castle will collapse.]

“…”

Alec’s jaw dropped slightly without him realizing it.

He couldn’t understand what the quest was even saying.

TL NOTE: More advanced chapter of this story is already up to the site. Visit dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and stories